Copywriting Ireland - Irish Tourism and Heritage Experts, sample presentations delivered by Lora O'Brien, Copywriter, Author, and Irish Heritage Professional in Roscommon, Ireland.

1. How the Irish brought Halloween to the world!

2. Wheel of theYear
Originally
2 divisions
Sam & Gam
(Summer & Winter)
Surviving words
Samhain - End of
Summer
Geimhreadh (?)
Winter

3.  Most ‘popular’ festival in Irish literature
 Beginning of Dark season
 Association with Death and Otherworld
 Supernatural adventures
 Ancestor reverence
 Fairies on the move
 Festivals & Feasting
 Tribute -Tara, 3 days

4.  Bonfires
 Costumes
 Trick orTreat
 Pumpkins
 Ghosts
 Apples & Nuts
 Games
 Witches

5. One by One...

6.  Fire festival – Coming Darkness
 Community – reliance, shared fears
 Cull, slaughter – Bone Fires
 Sacrifice, Cleansing
 Hearth Fires – Fresh start, shared source

7.  Fairies on the move, Summer toWinter
 Seeking human child or lover
 Throw Dust!
 Time of change – disguise (straw boys)
 No boundaries - Cross dress, wild times
 Tricks, jokes, anything goes
 Protection for any who travel out - Dress Up!

9.  Help the Halloween party!
 Propitiation, Bribery
 Boundaries – Community geography
 Feasting
 Tributes

10.  Hunting at an end – Quarter of the Fian
 Animals breeding
 Wild pig – Nov to Jan
 “Name of food which is carried to the Lord before
Christmas... is the Samhain Pig”
 Raiding at an end – weather, ease
 Grain & fruit harvest... DRINK!
 Plans for next year

11. NOW... THEN...

12.  Who was Jack?!
 Lighted Lanterns placed in windows
 Ward off unfriendly spirits

13.  Ancestor Reverence
 Shamanic culture – guidance, guardianship
 I SEE DEAD PEOPLE
 Dumb Supper
 Unlocked doors
 Early to Bed
 Leave a good fire in!

14.  Otherworld, Manannán Mac Lir
 EmhainAbhlach
 Silver branch with 3 golden apples
 Music would soothe to sleep the sick or wounded
 Imram – voyage
 Cross the sea to obtain the apples
 Bobbing for apples?!
 Hazelnuts – Find the Seer, Divination
 Salmon of knowledge, 9 sacred nuts

15.  Feasting & Merriment
 Divination
 Bobbing for Apples
 Peeling the Apple
 Nuts in the Fire
 Lock of hair to the Fire

16.  Bairín Breac (speckled loaf)
 Ring = Marriage
 Thimble = Spinsterhood
 Button = Bachelorhood
 Matchstick = Spousal abuse
 Bean = Poverty
 Pea = Wealth
 Holy Medal = Religious Orders
 Little Boat = Journey.

17.  Time of Change
 Magic
 Protection
 “It is the poet’s duty to
be with the king at
Samhain and protect
him from enchantment”

18.  We thought Spring is new year?
 Before visible growth – Darkness
 Winter - Time for Introspection
 Planning
 Learning
 Eliminate your weakness – Cull & Cleanse!

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